Vallejo celebrates new Filipino Community Center opening

Father Jess Soriano, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Vallejo, passes through and blesses the sanctuary, currently being used by Calvary Chapel Vallejo, in the newly dedicated Filipino Community Center during grand opening ceremonies on Saturday, May 18, 2013. (Mike Jory/Times-Herald)

After 67 years, the Filipino Community of Solano County, Inc. has a new home in Vallejo.

The organization on Saturday celebrated the grand opening of its new Filipino Community Center, 611 Amador St.

Among the more than 100 people who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis, American Canyon Mayor Leon Garcia, and representatives from the Vallejo City Unified School District, and Solano County Sheriff's Office.

That was followed by the blessings of all the rooms -- a Filipino tradition -- light refreshments, a cultural program and a banquet.

"Today is the most fabulous, the best and the greatest grand opening for the Filipino community," said Norma Placido, the organization's president the past 16 years.

A part of the new center is rented out to Calvary Chapel Vallejo, Placido said.

The building was purchased in 2011, with the help of local businessman Buck Kamphausen and Vallejo City Councilman Hermie Sunga, she added.

The old center at 820 Sonoma Blvd. will be available to rent out to the public, she added.

"This has been our dream to have a new and bigger building," Placido said.

She added that both centers are open to anyone interested in using them, not only from the Solano County Filipino community.

"We don't want to exclude anyone," she said.

The new center will host an array of activities, Placido added, including youth classes, cultural arts and senior programs to serve the Filipino community.

Filipinos make up about 25 percent of Vallejo's population.

The hall at the Amador Street location can hold up to 300 people, twice as many as the old center.

Aida Vi Layda of Vallejo attended Saturday's festivities.

"This is 100 percent better (than the old center)," Layda said. "It's very fantastic, and comfortable."

Mary Bitagon, a senior member of the organization, said the new community center is the result of many people working together.

For information about using the center, contact building manager Jess Ramos at 319-6864.